Gehenna

Chapter 16: Encircled

"Ye bluffed him that the Crown would cut supply to the Mission?! Do ya have a death wish, man?"

Gabriel shrugged as he walked down the dirt road back to the Coraçao. The sun had set moments ago, and the moonlight now shone meekly upon the dense thickets of woods. The missionaries had set up temporary quarters for Gabriel, the captain, and other men of high rank, but the seamen, porters, and lower-ranked soldiers were still made to camp back at the base of the ship.

"The next voyage to Gehenna is not until six moons, the Archbishop has no way of knowing."

"But he will find out eventually, you know that, yet still.."

Gabriel stopped, they had reached the Coração. "Bring me Ezekiel."

"Listen Gáv," the captain reduced the distance between them and sunk his finger deep into Gabriel's chest, "I do not know what might be turning up there in yer head. But do not keep it from me, understand? We are brothers, and ye know full well I would give up my life to protect you."

Gabriel smiled weakly and patted him on his shoulder, "I am well aware."

The captain shrugged off his hand and stomped away. Gabriel sighed, looking up at the moon, basking in its light, as if hoping to wash away his conscience of the secrets he had to bear. Despite being surrounded by men he could trust, why did he feel so alone? Perhaps it has always been this way, perhaps the invisible walls of Hell in all but name served to exacerbate thoughts already present. He did not know.

Ah, he remembered, they must have arrived.

*

"Oi Oi Zeke, you're starting to piss me off with your pussy shit," the young man dressed in a worn-out tunic and leather trousers complained in a frustrated voice.

The blade of his spear had lodged itself superficially into the sands of the camping grounds. With the minimal force needed to dislodge it, he carried the momentum and pivoted it upwards.

THUMP.

His opponent's spear blocked the attack once again, culminating in a loud collision that could be heard miles away. Birds of the night flew off startled from the branches they perched on, and the ring of soldiers surrounding them went wild with applause.

---

A shirtless soldier walked among the crowd shouting at the top of his lungs, "Place your bets! Place your bets!"

Evading the crowd, another man sporting a crimson crested tattoo along the length of his left arm walked up to the annoyingly loud individual.

"Hey." His voice was deep and guttural, unbefitting a man of his age. He slung his arm across the soldier and pulled him closer to draw his full attention, "So, who might those two be?"

The shirtless soldier guffawed aloud, so too did a nearby soldier who overheard the foolish question.

"You must be one of the new recruits if you do not know who they are," he scoffed and slapped the rookie's back. "They, my clueless friend, are men you do not want to mess with."

The nearby soldier interrupted, half-drunk, "The Twins.. hic.. rumor 'as it they's born wit knives at one anotha's throats."

With piercing feline eyes, the tattooed man stared at the shirtless soldier once again, anticipating elaboration.

"That, my friend, is Daniel and Ezekiel", the amateur bet-collector pointed out, "The Vice Generals of the Third Legion's Infantry."

---